Viridor secures planning permission for East Lothian EfW

Planning permission has been granted by East Lothian Council for a £200 million energy from waste facility that will be built by Viridor.

This follows the 2010 decision by Scottish Ministers to back plans by Viridor for the 300,000 tonnes per year EfW to normalise waste reception criteria at the consented site.

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While both planning approval and licensing for the development had already been secured, in February Viridor consulted with local residents on plans to bring the development in line with fresh guidance from the Scottish Government and SEPA, which was issued after approval had been given for the facility.

This policy involved recognising the inappropriateness of artificial restrictions on where waste could be sourced within Scotland, and also reflected long-established practices within the country.

“The decision by East Lothian Council to approve the policy alignment on waste reception is both in line with Scottish Government and SEPA policy, and reflects a common sense approach which has long operated across Scotland including by East Lothian Council.

“It marks an important step in the programmed delivery of advanced technologies across Scotland which aligns with waste reduction, reuse, enhanced recycling and recovery of renewable energy from what remains.”